Bird of the Month: Solitary Sandpiper
Written by Andy McCormick
Andy McCormick, Volunteer and Former Board President of Eastside Audubon
The Solitary Sandpiper is a medium-size shorebird that is a shorter version of other yellow-legged shorebirds. It is darker overall with a distinctive eye ring, a short straight dark bill, dark lore, and greenish legs (Paulson). In flight, the white tail is marked with black central tail feathers and black horizontal bars on the outer feathers. The underwing linings are dark and show off nicely against the white belly while in flight. As if to make sure we notice the underwing, the Solitary alights by holding its wings high in the air and slowly closing them (Moskoff).
Solitary Sandpiper
Scientific Name: Tringa solitaria
Length: 8.5”
Wingspan: 22”
Weight: 1.8 oz (50 g)
AOU Alpha Code: SOSA
UNIQUE BEHAVIORS
The Solitary Sandpiper is often more easily identified in the field by its behaviors than by its plumage. It does not travel in flocks as many shorebirds do, and it is most often seen alone or in a small group. Its name solitaria, reflects this penchant for aloneness. This species is in the genus Tringa, from the Greek truggas, a waterbird mentioned by Aristotle (Holloway). It shares the genus with the Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs and several other shorebirds.
The Solitary Sandpiper, when flushed, will fly very high in a flight called “towering,” a behavior characteristic of only a few shorebirds. Paulson suggests this may be an adaptation to living on wooded bodies of water where lateral flight may be difficult.
PREFERS FRESHWATER
Unlike most shorebirds, solitaries breed near freshwater boreal ponds. Most shorebirds nest on the ground, but the Solitary Sandpiper nests in a tree. This is unique among North American shorebirds. The male seeks out a used nest of an American Robin, Bohemian Waxwing, Canada Jay, Eastern Kingbird, or Rusty Blackbird. The female may alter the nest lining somewhat and then take it over (Moskoff).
As most shorebirds do, the Solitary Sandpiper deposits four eggs in the nest. Other information about breeding in this species is poorly known, presumably because the nests are widely dispersed and difficult to monitor. What little research there is indicates that the downy young leave the nest on their own, apparently, by dropping to the ground from the nest. There is no data available to tell us if parents feed the young or if they forage on their own.
The Solitary Sandpiper tends to avoid coastal salt marshes and estuaries where many shorebirds are found. It likes to get away from the crowd and spends most of its time on small freshwater ponds. Smaller closed ponds and even mud puddles will attract them.
STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION
The Solitary Sandpiper is a migratory species in Washington and is more likely seen in the state during the protracted fall migration beginning in mid-July. They peak in abundance in August and they are scarce by the end of September (Wahl, et al). They migrate at night singly or in small groups, never in flocks as other shorebirds do (Moskoff). Most Solitary Sandpipers migrate through the Central and Mississippi flyways. Some solitaries will use the Pacific flyway in fall. Please refer to the Movements and Migration section interactive eBird abundance map in Cornell’s Birds of the World. The map demonstrates the migration route and bird abundance using eBird records as the data source.
Photo credit Tom Murray. References available upon request from amccormick@eastsideaudubon.org.